Intelligent Surface Beam Control Using Active Unit Channel Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in accurately controlling beams for intelligent surface devices arises due to the lack of direct channel information between a base station and terminal, as large intelligent surface devices primarily consist of passive units that do not transmit reference signals, making it difficult for the base station and terminal to perform precise beam control.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for beam control that involves obtaining channel information between a network side device and active units of the intelligent surface, as well as between terminals and active units, to determine control information for both active and passive units, using reference signals and interpolation algorithms for channel estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a large intelligent surface device includes only passive units, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but channel information acquisition becomes difficult and beam control accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent surface device is segmented into active units and passive units. Active units are equipped with transmitting and receiving capabilities to send reference signals and assist in channel estimation, while passive units maintain simple receiving-only functionality. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate channel information acquisition through the active units while keeping the overall device complexity and manufacturing cost manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Active units serve as intermediaries between the passive units and the base station/terminal. The active units send reference signals that enable the base station and terminal to estimate channels for both active and passive units. This intermediary approach allows passive units to benefit from the channel estimation capabilities of active units without requiring complex transmitting/receiving hardware themselves.
2Device complexity
If passive units are used in the intelligent surface device, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to send reference signals is lost, worsening channel measurement capability
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent surface device is segmented into active units and passive units. Active units are equipped with transmitting and receiving capabilities to send reference signals and assist in channel estimation, while passive units maintain simple receiving-only functionality. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate channel information acquisition through the active units while keeping the overall device complexity and manufacturing cost manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel information obtained from active units is used to infer or copy channel characteristics for passive units. Since passive units lack transmitting capabilities, the system uses the channel measurements from active units to estimate the channels for passive units, effectively copying the channel state information needed for beam control without requiring passive units to perform independent channel measurements.
3Measurement precision
If active units are added to the intelligent surface device, then channel information acquisition and beam control accuracy are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of equipping all units with active transmitting and receiving capabilities, the system applies local quality by concentrating these capabilities in specific active units. Most units remain passive with simple receiving functionality, while only selected active units have the complex hardware needed for reference signal transmission. This localized approach to quality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the necessary measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Active units serve multiple functions: they act as both passive reflecting elements and as active reference signal transmitters for channel estimation. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve accurate channel information acquisition without adding separate dedicated reference signal transmission hardware, thereby reducing overall device complexity while improving measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A beam control method for the intelligent surface device includes obtaining, by a network side device, first channel information of an active unit of the intelligent surface device, where the first channel information is channel information between the network side device and the active unit; obtaining second channel information of the active unit, where the second channel information is channel information between a terminal and the active unit; and determining control information of a unit array of the intelligent surface device based on the first channel information and the second channel information, where the unit array includes the active unit and a passive unit of the intelligent surface device.